Onyx is showcasing its Summit 2.0 at the NEC, an off-grid, expedition-ready campervan

West Sussex-based Onyx Vans was creating a bit of a stir at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, with plenty of visitors pausing to view the van converter’s off-grid, expedition-ready campervans.

Built on the MAN TGE, a base vehicle in the discussion for the title of the best van for a camper conversion, the Summit 2.0 two berth has a chunky, no-nonsense look and includes lots of desirable features, including a 480w off-grid solar setup, compact AquaHot hydronic heating with continuous hot water (which can be used with underfloor heating as an option), an innovative pop-up shower and beefy BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres.

The spec includes an Onyx roof rack, lighter and side ladder and heated captain swivel seats. Beds are available in a transverse or lengthways orientation (see our tips on how to make a camper van bed more comfortable if you need advice on a better night’s sleep on tour).

We liked its rufty tufty off-road feel. The aesthetic is utilitarian with fixings unhidden, lots of functionality and no unnecessary bells and whistles. The control panel/switchboard has the sort of retro typography that wouldn’t be out of place in a rocket launch control room in an early Bond film – it’s simple to use but comprehensive.

The Summit is built for adventurers who are going to put the van through its paces, so it comes with aluminium-protected corners, lots of storage pockets with bungee-style holders above and below. The pop-up shower on the medium wheel base is easy to put up and a good feature.

Onyx is keen to promote the van’s offered credentials – 400 amp-hours of battery, 480 watts of solar on the roof, 50 amps of DCDC charging, all as standard, with options for more power should you want it.

Gasless cooking is available on the two-ring induction hob and there’s a small sink which sits seamlessly on the worktop when covered. There’s a plug socket nearby, should you need to run a toaster or air fryer.

The two-wheel drive is available from £112K and the all-wheel drive from £117.5K.

The Onyx Summit 2.0 is not the only camper van to be making its first appearance at the February NEC Show this week, with Aura having a VW Crafter-based ‘van with a transverse bed debut. Ace also returned, with the brand appearing at the Caravan and Camping Show with a range of campervans and motorhomes.

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